Vanetsyan’s statement ‘was against his commander-in-chief’, prime minister says in Los Angeles

On the sidelines of his meeting with the US-Armenians in Los Angeles, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shared his comments on the resignation address of Artur Vanetsyan, the former chief of the National Security Service (NSS).

“At the moment of making his statement in the de-jure capacity of the NSS director, [Vanetsyan] virtually made a statement against his commander-in-chief. Being the head of a [government agency] adjunct to the prime minister, he made a statement against his superior; there isn’t a greater disrespect dishonoring him,” he said, describing Vanetsyan’s move as a "disrespectful attitude to the state".

“I am really happy that the Armenian society gave the clear evaluation to that,” Pashinyan added.

Vanetsyan, who handed in his resignation last Monday, citied the “situation in the country” and the “context of the forthcoming” as the motives behind his decision.

“Statebuilding has its logic. Spontaneity of decisions, the turbulence of actions and the workstyle of not distinguishing primary and secondary, ephemeral and substantial issues is not the road that will lead towards fulfilling our goals. That does not have anything in common with the officer’s dignity: officer’s stripes and such flow of developments are incompatible.

"Let my resignation be a sobering move calling “Stop it!”: in all other options the duty to the Homeland will prevail. May peace and security be with our country,” read part of his resignation letter.